Archive | Weather

I want to reach out as yet another snow storm arrives in Providence this evening. Six to fourteen inches of snow is expected by tomorrow.

Here are steps we are taking to prepare for the storm:

A citywide parking ban begins at 2:00 a.m. tomorrow, Sunday, February 15 and will remain in effect until further notice. We urge everyone to comply with the parking ban, so crews can plow our streets. Cars parked on the street once the parking ban is in effect will be ticketed and towed.

We also ask residents and businesses to shovel their sidewalks so people can safely get around our city. This is an important public safety concern. The City has begun giving fines to those who still have not cleared snow from the sidewalk in front of their home or business.

Trash and recycling collection will continue on a holiday schedule, with a one day delay.
This winter has brought historic snow to Providence and we have been working around the clock to make every road passable and widen our busiest corridors. We’ve moved truckloads of snow to empty parcels throughout the city and we will continue to clear the snow long after the storm passes.

There is no challenge we cannot overcome when we come together as a community. So to everyone who lives, works and does business in Providence – thank you.

Thank you for your patience and perseverance as we continue to make it through this historic winter, and thank you for all you do for Providence.

Providence Public Schools Closed Tomorrow, Monday Feb. 9, 2015

Mayor Jorge O. Elorza today announced a series of actions in response to a winter storm expected to escalate in the early hours of Monday, February 9 and continue through the day.

Providence Public Schools and afterschool activities are canceled Monday, February 9, 2015. City Recreation Centers will be closed Monday as well.

A citywide parking ban will go into effect at 12:01AM on Monday, February 9 and remain in effect until further notice. Residents with overnight parking passes are advised that they cannot park on the street during the duration of the citywide parking ban. All vehicles parked on the street in violation of the citywide parking ban will be ticketed and towed to ensure that roadways can be plowed.

Mayor Elorza and State Senator Pichardo shoveling snow last week. Photo from Twitter.

Introduced by Ward 13 Council member Bryan Principe, the ordinance change would allow the Department of Public Works to clear un-passable sidewalks and then bill the abutting land owners for the cost of the work. It would also allow the city to levy a fine for each day a sidewalk remains unshoveled, instead of only a one-time charge.

This is what a lot of people have been calling for, the City shoveling, or paying someone to shovel, then billing the property owner. Of course, it will still be awkward when the City has to bill itself.

As reported by local media, Karen McHugh, a 51-year-old Seekonk resident was struck and killed by a hit & run driver on Friday night as she was walking along the road near her home. At the time of the incident that took her life, the sidewalks on Arcade Avenue were not shoveled, forcing McHugh to walk along the edge of the roadway.

This is exactly what we feared would happen when we started documenting uncleared sidewalks through the #PVDsidewalks hashtag on Twitter.

Every year we deal with these sidewalk conditions, and every year, people die while people who drive their cars seem to become more and more entitled and unable to deal with the fact that we live in New England and it snows. Someone started a Twitter fight with me insisting that the real problem was that streets were not returned to dry pavement yet and how dare I waste time worrying about sidewalks. The road in Seekonk was returned to dry pavement, and motorist were moving 35-40 mph on it, and Karen McHugh is dead.

Providence Public Schools Closed Tomorrow, Monday Feb. 2, 2015

PROVIDENCE, RI – Providence Mayor Jorge O. Elorza today announced a series of actions ahead of a winter storm expected to begin in the early morning hours of Monday, February 2, 2015.

Providence Public Schools and afterschool activities are canceled Monday, February 2, 2015. City Recreation Centers will be closed Monday as well.

A citywide parking ban will go into effect at 2AM on Monday, February 2 and remain in effect until further notice. Residents with overnight parking passes are advised that they cannot park on the street during the duration of the citywide parking ban. All vehicles parked on the street in violation of the citywide parking ban will be ticketed and towed to ensure that roadways can be plowed.

Garbage and recycling pickup in Providence will proceed on a holiday schedule. Monday’s garbage and recycling pick-up will take place on Tuesday and all pick-up for the rest of the week will take place a day later with Friday’s pick-up taking place on Saturday. Residents who did not receive trash pick-up last week due to the storm and have urgent and additional concerns can call the Office of Neighborhood Services at 401-421-2489.

“We expect heavy snowfall, high winds and other conditions that will significantly impact both the morning and evening commutes on Monday,” Mayor Elorza said. “I urge residents to comply with the citywide parking ban, exercise caution and prepare for rapidly changing travel conditions throughout the day. If you see a person or a family in need, please do what you can to either lend a helping hand or notify the City. When we all pull together, we are capable of overcoming any challenge.”

The Department of Public Works has prepared all equipment and personnel to respond to the storm. Roadways will be pretreated ahead of expected snowfall. The Providence Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) will begin a partial activation the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at 12AM on Monday.

The City’s snow hotline will be open Monday through the duration of the storm at 401-680-8080. Residents experiencing power outages should contact National Grid at 800-322-3223. Individuals are warned never to touch downed power lines and report downed lines to National Grid. In the event of an emergency always dial 911.

Providence City Offices Closed Tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015

PROVIDENCE, RI – Due to the severe winter storm, Providence City offices will be closed during regular business hours on Tuesday, January 27, 2015. Non-essential employees should not report for work.

City Hall and all City offices are expected to reopen during regular business hours on Wednesday, January 28, 2015.

Garbage and recycling pickup in Providence is canceled for tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan. 27, and Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015. The collection schedule is not being changed. Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s trash and recycling will be collected next Tuesday and Wednesday. Residents with Tuesday and Wednesday pick-ups are advised not to put their garbage and recycling cans out until next week on their usual pickup day.

A citywide parking ban remains in effect until further notice. Residents with overnight parking passes are advised that they cannot park on the street during the duration of the citywide parking ban. All vehicles parked on the street in violation of the citywide parking ban will be ticketed and towed to ensure that roadways can be plowed.

In the event of an emergency, always dial 911. Residents are advised that 911 emergency responders may be delayed during the storm. Residents experiencing power outages should contact National Grid at 800-322-3223. Individuals are warned never to touch downed power lines and report downed lines to National Grid or PEMA.

For non-emergencies, a snow hotline is available to Providence residents at 401-680-8080.

All afterschool and evening activities for Providence Public Schools are canceled Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015. City Recreation Centers will be closed Tuesday.

“This is going to be a long and intense storm with frigid temperatures and high winds through the night,” Mayor Elorza said. “We urge residents to stay safe. If you see a person or a family in need, please do what you can to either lend a helping hand or notify the City. When we all pull together, we are capable of overcoming any challenge.”

SERVICE ALERT::Route 11 & 60:: In an effort to comply with the midnight travel ban instituted tonight by Governor Raimondo, the following trips will not run tonight:
#11 – Broad City Line N/B Trip at 12:30 AM (the last North Bound trip on the #11 line will be at 12:10 AM)
#60 – Providence/Newport O/B Trip at 12:05 AM (the last Out Bound trip on the #60 line will be at 11:05 PM)

All regular RIPTA buses and trolleys, but excluding special services, will be free on Wednesday, August 27th , 2014.

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is predicting that air quality will reach unhealthy levels in portions of Rhode Island during the afternoon on Wednesday. A very hot and very humid air mass with west to southwest winds will be present at that time, which will lead to unhealthy air conditions. The poor air quality will be due to elevated ground level ozone concentrations. Ozone is a major component of smog and is formed by the photochemical reaction of pollutants emitted by motor vehicles, industry and other sources in the presence of elevated temperatures and sunlight.

Rhode Island residents can help reduce air pollutant emissions. Limit car travel and the use of small engines, lawn motors and charcoal lighter fuels. Travel by bus or carpool whenever possible, particularly during high ozone periods.

The Department of Health warns that unhealthy levels of ozone can cause throat irritation, coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, increased susceptibility to respiratory infection and aggravation of asthma and other respiratory ailments. These symptoms are worsened by exercise and heavy activity. The children, elderly and people who have underlying lung diseases, such as asthma, are at particular risk of suffering from these effects. As ozone levels increase, the number of people affected and the severity of the health effects also increase.

Travel is discouraged this evening due to near blizzard-like conditions.

In preparation for a snowstorm that is forecast to intensify from 5PM – 11PM this evening with near blizzard-like conditions, the City of Providence has declared a citywide parking ban beginning at 6PM tonight, Saturday, February 15. The parking ban will remain in effect until further notice. Cars in violation of the citywide parking ban will be ticketed and towed to ensure that roadways can be plowed. Cars parked in school parking lots overnight will also be ticketed and towed.

Snow is forecast to intensify dramatically during the evening hours, with possible rates of 1-3 inches per hour. Whiteout conditions are expected with an increasing northeasterly wind. Travel will be hazardous. Drivers and pedestrians are advised not to travel this evening given the rapidly deteriorating conditions.

The Department of Public Works has prepared all equipment and personnel to respond to the storm. The City’s Emergency Operations Center will be partially activated with Providence Emergency Management staff.

Residents can stay up to date on the latest storm developments from the City by using the filter #PVDsnow on Twitter and following the accounts of Mayor Taveras and PEMA.

Providence Public Schools Closed Tomorrow, Feb. 5

Parking Ban Begins at Midnight Tonight – Don’t ‘Block the Box’

PROVIDENCE, RI – In preparation for a winter snow storm forecast to bring treacherous driving conditions and leave several inches of heavy, wet snow in Providence, Providence Public Schools will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, February 5, 2014.

The City of Providence has declared a citywide parking ban beginning at midnight tonight. The parking ban will remain in effect until further notice.

The State of the City Address that had been planned for tomorrow evening will take place on Tuesday, February 11, 2014 at 5PM in the City Council Chambers at Providence City Hall.

Snowfall is expected to begin in the early morning hours tomorrow and continue throughout the day before turning to sleet and freezing rain. Residents are advised that freezing temperatures forecast for tomorrow night will likely cause untreated walkways to become icy. Residents are asked to take caution while clearing snow from sidewalks as soon as possible to prevent icy conditions.

The Department of Public Works has prepared all equipment and personnel to respond to the storm. The City’s Emergency Operations Center will be partially activated with Providence Emergency Management staff.

Residents can stay up to date on the latest storm developments from the City by using the filter #PVDsnow on Twitter and following the accounts of Mayor Taveras and PEMA.

Another week with a holiday and a snowstorm throws the waste collection schedule into disarray. Here’s the updated collection schdule from the City (note: normal collection days are impacted this week and next):

TRASH REMOVAL

Garbage and recycling will not take place today, Wednesday, January 22, 2014.

The garbage and recycling collection schedule has been revised for this week based on the Monday holiday and snowstorm. All pickups for the rest of the week will be as follows:

Tuesday pickup will be Thursday, January 23

Wednesday pickup will be Friday, January 24

Thursday pickup will be Saturday, January 25

Friday pickup will be Monday, January 27

Christmas tree pickup will continue through the rest of this week and end on Monday, January 27, 2014.

All pickups for the week of January 27, 2014 will be delayed by one day:

Monday pickup will be Tuesday, January 28

Tuesday pickup will be Wednesday, January 29

Wednesday pickup will be Thursday, January 30

Thursday pickup will be Friday, January 31

Friday pickup will be Saturday, February 1

The regular trash pickup schedule will resume on Monday, February 3, 2014.

TRASH REMOVAL
Garbage and recycling collection will not take place today, Friday, January 3, 2014. If your regular trash pickup day is Thursday, your trash will be picked up tomorrow, Saturday, January 4, 2014. If your regular trash pickup day is Friday, your trash will be picked up on Monday, January 6, 2014.

Trash pickup will be delayed by one day next week:

Monday pickup will be Tuesday

Tuesday pickup will be Wednesday

Wednesday pickup will be Thursday

Thursday pickup will be Friday

Friday pickup will be Saturday

The regular trash pickup schedule will resume on Monday, January 13, 2014.

PROVIDENCE, RI – In preparation for a winter snow storm forecast to bring frigid temperatures and leave up to eight inches of snow in Providence, Providence Public Schools will be closed tomorrow, January 3, 2013.

Mayor Angel Taveras has declared a citywide parking ban beginning at midnight tonight. The parking ban will remain in effect until further notice.

Snowfall is expected to peak in intensity during the evening hours tonight and will continue through tomorrow morning. The storm will be accompanied by frigid temperatures and wind gusts up to 45 miles per hour that will greatly reduce visibility and make extended outdoor exposure dangerous.

The Department of Public Works has prepared all equipment and personnel to respond to the storm. The City’s Emergency Operations Center has been partially activated with Providence Emergency Management staff.

Residents can stay up to date on the latest storm developments from the City by using the filter #PVDsnow on Twitter and following the accounts of Mayor Taveras and PEMA.

Providence Declares Citywide Parking Ban Beginning at 9PM

Clearing major roads, emergency routes is first priority; side streets are not plowed immediately during a snow event

PROVIDENCE, RI – In preparation for a snowstorm that is forecast to begin late this afternoon and peak in intensity this evening, Mayor Angel Taveras has declared a citywide parking ban beginning at 9PM tonight, Saturday, December 14. The parking ban will remain in effect until further notice.

Snowfall is forecasted to begin later this afternoon, peaking in intensity during the evening hours with 3-6 inches of snow before turning to sleet and rain early tomorrow morning.

Residents with overnight parking passes and all residents are advised that they cannot park on the street during the duration of the citywide parking ban. All vehicles parked on the street in violation of the citywide parking ban will be ticketed and towed to ensure that roadways can be plowed.

The Department of Public Works has prepared all equipment and personnel to respond to the storm.

We haven’t had a giant flood since, but related to the flooding problem is stormwater runoff polluting the bay. Bob Plain writes today on RIFuture about how Warwick has been heavily impacted by beach closures related to pollution caused by runoff.

Also today, Save The Bay is holding a press conference about the high number of beach closings this year. The AP’s Erika Niedowski tweets from the press conference: